French police survey the mechanical steps used by thieves to break into the Louvre in Paris last Sunday. AFP
French police survey the mechanical steps used by thieves to break into the Louvre in Paris last Sunday. AFP
French police survey the mechanical steps used by thieves to break into the Louvre in Paris last Sunday. AFP
French police survey the mechanical steps used by thieves to break into the Louvre in Paris last Sunday. AFP

Two arrested over €88m Louvre jewellery heist


Tariq Tahir
  • English
  • Arabic

Two men have been arrested in connection with the theft of jewellery from the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The pair, who are in their 30s and originally from the French capital's Seine-Saint-Denis suburb, were detained on Saturday evening, according to Le Parisien newspaper, which broke the story.

They were known to French police and one of the suspects was arrested as he was about to fly to Algeria from Charles de Gaulle Airport at about 10pm, the newspaper said. The second man was arrested in Seine-Saint-Denis.

Eight items from the French Crown Jewels collection were stolen from the world's most-visited museum last Sunday, when four thieves using power tools broke into the building shortly after it opened to visitors. The stolen jewellery was valued at €88 million ($102 million). The items were not insured because the premiums would be so high they would outweigh any benefit.

The heist was carried out by a gang of four thieves who arrived with a vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to gain access to the Galerie d'Apollon through a balcony close to the Seine. They made off with their haul in just seven minutes.

The two men arrested, already known by police for burglaries, are thought to be experienced criminals who may have been acting on orders, Le Parisien reported. They can be held in custody for up to 96 hours.

Pictures from the scene last Sunday showed an extendable ladder leading to a first-floor window. Two of the thieves entered the building by cutting through the window frame with power tools. They then threatened guards, who evacuated the premises, and cut through the glass of two display cases containing the jewels.

They dropped a diamond and emerald-studded crown as they fled down the ladder and on to scooters but made off with eight other pieces, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon Bonaparte gave to his second wife, Marie-Louise.

A preliminary report has revealed that one in three rooms in the area of the museum raided had no CCTV cameras. The theft made headlines across the world and sparked a debate in France about the security of cultural institutions, which has since been tightened.

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:

Ajax 2-3 Tottenham

Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate

Final: June 1, Madrid

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The biog

Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.

Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books

Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella

Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Panipat

Director Ashutosh Gowariker

Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment

Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman

Rating 3 /stars

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

From exhibitions to the battlefield

In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.

It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.

It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.

It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.

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RESULTS

Catchweight 82kg
Piotr Kuberski (POL) beat Ahmed Saeb (IRQ) by decision.

Women’s bantamweight
Corinne Laframboise (CAN) beat Cornelia Holm (SWE) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Omar Hussein (PAL) beat Vitalii Stoian (UKR) by unanimous decision.

Welterweight
Josh Togo (LEB) beat Ali Dyusenov (UZB) by unanimous decision.

Flyweight
Isaac Pimentel (BRA) beat Delfin Nawen (PHI) TKO round-3.

Catchweight 80kg​​​​​​​
Seb Eubank (GBR) beat Emad Hanbali (SYR) KO round 1.

Lightweight
Mohammad Yahya (UAE) beat Ramadan Noaman (EGY) TKO round 2.

Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) beat Reydon Romero (PHI) submission 1.

Welterweight
Juho Valamaa (FIN) beat Ahmed Labban (LEB) by unanimous decision.

Featherweight
Elias Boudegzdame (ALG) beat Austin Arnett (USA) by unanimous decision.

Super heavyweight
Maciej Sosnowski (POL) beat Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) by submission round 1.

Mrs%20Chatterjee%20Vs%20Norway
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Final results:

Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)

Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)

Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)

Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)

Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)

The biog

Age: 59

From: Giza Governorate, Egypt

Family: A daughter, two sons and wife

Favourite tree: Ghaf

Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense 

Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Updated: October 26, 2025, 8:36 PM